Advocates for a new playground in Georgetown are hoping area residents and merchants consider making a donation this holiday season they say will benefit hundreds of children.

To help encourage donations, the seven-member Georgetown Playground Committee released a concept drawing this week of a proposed $147,000 playground on North King Street.

The drawing, prepared by state-contracted playground architects Liberty Parks & Playgrounds of Clayton, features equipment available from Missouri-based Miracle Recreation such as jungle gyms, slides, seesaws and handicap accessible swings, as well as tables and benches.

“The concept we chose incorporates a castle theme, which seemed fitting for King Street,” committee chairman and Town Councilman Bill West said last week. “The concept includes play areas for children between the ages of 2 and 5 and 5 and older.”

The playground committee is in the process of mailing out letters requesting varying levels of donations needed to make the proposed North King Street playground a reality.

West said the committee’s ultimate goal is to raise about $300,000 so work can begin planning for a second playground.

“Our ultimate goal is to have a playground facility in all four wards of town,” he said. “But right now, we’re focusing on this property because [the town] already owns it and we can move ahead as soon as we have the funding in place.”

BACKGROUND

In July, town council was considering a proposed ordinance that would have barred children from playing in public streets.

Council opted instead to appoint a seven-member playground committee tasked with developing more active recreational opportunities in Georgetown, which does not have a parks and recreation department.

The committee initially re-examined a 2005 proposal to develop a playground at the North Bedford Street Park, which the town leases from Georgetown Presbyterian Church for $1 a year.

While that proposal still remains a possibility, the committee instead set its sights on the King Street property. The town purchased the two parcels there – totaling about one-third of an acre – in late 2007 and early 2008 while acquiring land for a new town hall. That plan later fell through and the property has remained vacant ever since.

WHAT’S NEXT

The committee plans to mail out letters before Christmas asking Georgetown residents and business owners to donate to the playground project.

Donations of varying levels are encouraged, ranging from Contributor status between $1 and $500 up to Founder level at $5,000 and more.

Donations are tax deductible and contributions of $500 or more will get donors’ names added to a permanent sign at the playground, West said.

Want to Donate?

Checks can be sent to the Town of Georgetown, 39 The Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947. Include the word “playground” on the memo line.